The rest of that day passed, with nothing of significance happening, until Naofumi and Raphtalia made the decision to finally go to bed, as you watched over them. You took this time to tend to your weapons in the dream. Repair, add some gems to increase damage, and rework your runes until...

"Hey, wake up!" You opened your eyes, looking at Naofumi, who was looking at his monster egg. Silently, you pushed off of your wall, prodding Raphtalia. She squirmed for a moment, before waking up. With her awake, you walked over to Naofumi, who looked at the cracking egg.

"Finally hatching?" You asked. Naofumi nodded, watching flakes of the shell fall off, revealing feathers.

Would've been nice to see a dragon here. You silently admitted, as the egg burst open, revealing a rather chubby little bird. It looked straight at Naofumi(open eyes at birth. Strange), before lunging forward, hopping onto his head, where it immediately began to nestle itself in.

"Hey! Wha-" Naofumi spike up in surprise as you lightly chuckled at the sight.

"It must believe you're it's mother." You told him. He groaned as the creature got itself comfortable.

"Yeah. What is it anyway?" Raphtalia asked, scratching her chin. You studied it, looking to the door.

"Well, we'd best ask some villager." You put in.

"Yeah, I guess that's the right choice." Naofumi agreed. He was surprisingly calm with a bird making a nest from his hair. It was rather amusing.

"That? That's a Filolial." A villager answered, pausing his work to speak with Naofumi.

"A filolial?" Raphtalia asked. The villager nodded, pointing outside.

"We lost most of ours to the waves, and the scourge, but there's still some healthy ones over there." Looking in the direction of his point, you spotted two large birdsjust staying in a field.

"They like pulling carts, and even become restless if you don't let them. It's just in their nature." He stated.

So beings like this just live in this world, and nobody questions how. Guess that's why slavery is accepted. You looked back to the villager.

"What do they eat?" You asked.

"When they're young, you should start with warm bean paste, but as they grow older, they'll start eating whatever you give them." The villager told you. This reminded you of a rather legendary creature you had already utilized in battle before.

The Madaras twins grew up alongside a poisonous snake, and developed a silent, inhuman kinship.

The poisonous snake grew uncontrollably, raised on a healthy diet of beast entrails. Even after their deaths, it is said to respond to the call of the twins' whistle from within the Nightmare.

"If you level it up, it'll become big much faster." The villager told Naofumi. You noticed Raphtalia looking out into the field, seemingly contemplating something. You nudged her side, startling her for a moment as you motioned to the open field.

"The sun shines on us, Raphtalia. This field would make for a good sparring grounds, no?" You asked. Raphtalia looked to her new weapon, and back to you.

"Yeah, it would. Are you willing to help me learn this new weapon?" She asked you. You gave her a short smirk, drawing the shortsword version of Ludwigs Holy Blade.

"I am more than. Let Naofumi handle raising his bird for now. I must continue to raise my own being." You spoke.

You and Raphtalia stood about ten feet away from each other. Raphtalia was trying to analyze your stance, to get a sense of your first move. You only slowly circled, enticing her with the opportunity to attack first.

Straight edge facing you, Raphtalia began to run towards you. When she got close enough, you dashed towards her, past her swinging blade. You immediately rolled to the side, barely avoiding her next swing. For a counter attack, you rushed forward, striking towards her back. Your swing hit empty air as Raphtalia dove forward, rolling before coming to her feet, facing you.

You chuckled at this.

"You are surely learning, Raphtalia. Any other strike like that would've hit true." You praised her. Her ear twitched as a light grin graced her face. She forced her grin down and tightened her grip, focusing on the battle. She struck first, so now it was your turn.

You slowly stepped towards her, putting her on edge as you quietly approached her. She kept turning to face you, something that you liked to see in a new hunter.

Suddenly, you dashed forward, swinging your blade in a horizontal slash. In the past, Raphtalia would attempt to block this hit, only for her weapon to be knocked away, and her defenses left open.

In a pleasant surprise, she quickstepped backwards, out of the range of your swing, and raised her sword, bringing it down towards you. This was a rather good choice for her, as it left you with little to no options for dodging.

See, with your current stance, any roll would be seriously clumsy, leaving you open to another attack. Dodging backwards would still have you in range of your swing. And rolling forward would be.... your only choice.

You dropped your sword, charging forward in a tackle that sent both you and Raphtalia tumbling through the grass. In her shock, she dropped her own weapon as well. You stopped after the tackle, getting a feel of the position you were both currently in.

It wasn't sexually awkward or anything, just your hand under her back as she laid on the ground, still shocked. You pulled your hand out from under her back, seeing her knights garb get kinda roughed up from the fall.

Standing up, you extended a hand towards her. She snapped out of her dazed state to see you. She grabbed your hand, and you pulled her up.

"That was a good counterattack, Raphtalia. You forced me to use a tactic I never had to in all my years of beast slaying." You told her, rubbing her ears. Raphtalia grew a bit flustered from the words as you walked off, grabbing the two weapons from the grass. She was still a bit red on the cheeks when you returned, something you did not fail to notice.

She is growing mature, and will no doubt grow an eye for men soon. Of course, her only choices right now are Naofumi and I, but if she wants, I'll help her expand those views.

You handed her her sword, turning towards the barn Naofumi was in. He was walking out, holding a bag.

"Beans for the bird." He explained in the four words you least expected to hear in the same sentence. You've heard of crows eating eyes, but a knockoff chocobo that eats beans? That's new.

Over the course of the day, you three(four counting the bird) had been hard at work grinding levels for the filolial. By the time you all retired for the night, she reached level twelve.

"All this leveling is nice and all, but..." Raphtalia shot a concerned look at Naofumi. The bird that normally nestled in his hair had easily tripled in size, and was now sitting down on his head, her legs dangling.

"Isn's it growing a little fast?" She asked. You shrugged, looking at Raphtalia.

"Eighteen levels turned you from a scrawny runt to a healthy young woman. Twelve turning Fatty into a nugget is not as sudden if you ask me." You stated your opinion. Naofumi looked up at the bird, which gave him a short krah! in excitement, before looking back to you.

"What he just said. We should retire for the night." He stated, looking back at Lute village. You nodded, putting away your bloody Saif.

"I agree with Naofumi here. I'll pay for meals and all that." For once, nobody complained with you offering to pay. The walk back to the town was filled with the quiet dawn air.

You watched a stick fly through the morning air, shortly followed by a large shadow, as a massive Filolial, recognizable as the one that had the same body shape as a chicken nugget that Naofumi bought. Now, she was large, bigger than the other filolials, and just as lively. In the distance, Naofumi gave the Filolial a warm grin, one you had never seen on his face, as he stroked its face, clearly making her happy.

"He never smiles like that when we're around..." beside you, Raphtalia grouched at his happy mood. You looked towards her, elbowing her side.

"That's alright, you know. While I got you after you lived for ten years, he's had that Filolial since her birth. You've known us for a fraction of your life, and she's known him for all of hers." You explained.

"Naofumi.... I guess he has a greater connection with her, seeing as she really only knows him as a master. No rumors to make her hesitate, no reason not to trust her." You pointed out. Raphtalia, after a moment, sighed.

"Yeah, you're right. You always are." She stated. You snorted.

"Don't think like that. I'm less your owner than I am your trainer. Don't forget that. The only reason you have that-" you prompted a squeak and blush from Raphtalia by poking her chest, just above her....breasts, where her slave mark was.

"- is because you wanted it." You told her. Raphtalia grilled the cloth around her chest, feeling the frills.

"By the way, can you tell me something, Y/n?" She asked.

"Yeah. What is it?" You asked. Raphtalia nervously fidgeted in her spot, gripping the area around her heart.

"Why does... why does the slave crest made with your blood feel so different from any other?" She asked. You furrowed you're eyebrows, looking at her.

"What do you mean?" You asked. Raphtalia swallowed nervously as she responded.

"Ever since your second crest was made, it stopped hurting, period. Even when you forced me to kneel in front of you, it didn't hurt when it sparked. It... it felt more like pressure was closing in on my mind, until I obeyed. And... ever since the first crest, I've been hearing voices, and now I-" you silenced Raphtalia with a finger to her lips.

"It's okay. I know the answer to your question, but right now, it's better you don't know." You told her. She slowly nodded, the worry in her eyes fading.

She trusts me so much that just me telling her she shouldn't know something comforts her about this. For some reason, that warmed your heart. It almost made you smile.

"Well, let's see how Naofumi's doing with his bird." You suggested. Raphtalia nodded, and the both you headed off across the field.

"Hey Naofumi. Whatcha doing?" You called out. Naofumi three the stick again, as his bird ran off at high speeds, leaping in the air to catch it.

"Taking care of Filo." He told you. With a thunderous stomping, Filo skidded to a halt in front of Naofumi.

"Filo, as in Filolial?" You asked. Naofumi nodded, scratching Filo under her neck.

"Not having a name would be rather inconvenient on all ends." He stated.

"...true." You decided not to input anymore data.

"Besides, I don't think she's normal, with how much she grows." Naofumi spoke up, looking at Filo with the same pride as a parent watching their child go to their first day of school.

You all started to walk back through the town, so that Naofumi could sell some of his medicine, before you caught a glimpse of a gathering.

"Oh?" This caught Naofumi and Raphtalia's attention, eventually leading to them sighting the crowd for themselves. Of course, you all decided to inspect it, to see what was going on.

"What's with this?" Naofumi asked some random villager.

"What happened to reconstruction?" He was answered with a light laugh. One you recognized a second before the rest of your group.

"Well, you all see, I've been put in charge of the reconstruction." Motoyasu, Spear Hero, announced. Man must have a three second memory span, forgetting about you kicking not only his ass, but the ass of a beast that already kicked his ass.

"I, Kitamura Motoyasu, am your new lord!" He declared. You let out a low growl, getting his attention. He looked at you, and you felt the tension rise as he shifted uncomfortably.

"I...I've chosen this town to act as my base!" He shouted.

"Why did he receive the title of lord? What a joke..." Naofumi grumbled.

"What, haven't you heard?" He was answered by a familiar redhead you really wanted to teach a proper lesson to.

"His efforts during the first wave were acknowledged by the king, and as payment, he was made lord of this village!" Myne spoke up.

Bullshit

"In any case, we would like the Criminal Shield Hero and his Bastard party to leave the town at once." Myne spoke up. You rested a hand on the handle of the Saif as the current lord began to finally speak up.

"Hold on. I am none other than the lord of this land. I have heard nothing of this decree, so I shan't-"

"Can't you take a hint? You're fired. It's the kings orders." Myne interrupted him.

"As our first official decree, we shall plant a tax on entrance and leave. 50 silvers to enter this town, and 50 to leave it." She spoke. You were about to speak up, before Naofumi did so instead.

"Do you know how much it is to sleep in this town for one night?" Naofumi asked, silencing the rioting villagers.

"It's one silver, food included. An adult here can live on 20 copper coins a day. Do you really plan on bleeding this village dry for the sake of reconstruction, by charging them a hundred times more, just to enter and leave?" He asked. Motoyasu continued to prove his blind faith by looking over to his female companion.

"...painful reform is necessary." She spoke, crossing her arms.

You.... you narrowed your eyes, glaring at her. Before you could hope to lash out, the air around Myne blurred as four people appeared around her. In their dark clothes, and aura of authority, you were able to recognize them. They were the Queen's shadows. Another one blurred into existence in front of you, holding a scroll.

"Y/n...?" Raphtalia looked at you as the shadow held out the scroll.

"I assume you know not only who we are, but what this is?" The shadow asked. You nodded, grabbing the scroll.

"I know who you are, but I have only an idea about this." You told her. With a nod, the shadow vanished. Raphtalia looked at you as you looked around you.

"What is that?" Raphtalia asked. You looked at her, and at everyone else.

"...this is important business. I'll be back in a bit. Do not follow me." You ordered. Raphtalia slowly nodded, as you turned, walking away from the crowd.

When you were a good hundred paces away, you popped open the scroll, unraveling it to reveal a single paragraph of writing.

Great One

I have heard of your actions during not only the second wave, but also of the duel with the spear hero. I agree that you have taken an optimal route towards our goal with the wave, but the duel has yet to be seen. I have another decree I wish for you to follow, but I hope to speak it in person, so that if this message is ever intercepted, no information will be taken of it. Please, whenever you can, come see me, so that I can discuss this with you.

With high regards

~Mirellia Q. Melromarc

You read the message through twice, before a flash of fire appeared in your palms, burning the scroll to a crisp. If the queen wished for an audience, then you had no choice but to comply.

In the dream, you took to your regular posture. Relaxed, ready for bargaining, laid back.

Outside of the gate leading into this field, you felt mist gather, forming into the only mortal you were obligated to obey.

After a moments time, she walked into the field, guided by the doll.

Good Queen. You greeted her. Mirellia dipped her head, taking to a knee in your presence.

"Oh Great One." She spoke.

Raise your head and speak your decree. Do not forget that while your country needs defending, and while the heroes remain separated at heart, you are the one in power here. You told her. Some would be disappointed, even angered at these words. You could rule the world if you wanted, yet you chose to yield to a human you met twice, due to a bargain.

While nothing stopped you from turning her into a puddle of blood, you made this bargain, where you obey her decree in return for any souls lost during the waves going towards you. You always honered your bargains.

"Oh great one, at this rate, you are soon to meet my second born child." Mirellia told you.

"She is young, merely a child, but with her status of first princess, she is likely to be targeted by her elder sister." She told you.

"She is often accompanied by guards, but I have spread the order that all guards shall agree to yield to you, should you decide to protect her. Any who do not are imposters. This is my second decree, Great One." Mirellia stated.

"Protect Melty Melromarc'slife with your human body. Do whatever you can to help her, and if necessary, use lethal force when saving her." She told you. You dipped your head in a slow nod.

"It will be done. Do you hold any other decrees?" You asked. Mirellia nodded, looking down.

"It is less of a decree than it is a request, but unless someone's life is on the line, I would like you to refrain from combat against any heroes. I recognize and acknowledge your duel against the spear hero as official, and regarding a real matter, but..." she pulled a smaller scroll from a deep pocket.

"I have recently finished this order, pardoning you from any command the king may give you to force you into any sort of combat. Please, great one." The Queen took to a knee, handing the scroll to a messenger. A moment later, the messenger appeared beside you, holding the same scroll.

"I need you to help the heroes, not divide them any further." She told you.

"I understand. I apologize about the first duel going against your current wish. No more battle will occur against any heroes that defend this land." You promised.

"As compensation for my actions, I shall grant you this." At the queens feet, a messenger appeared, holding a glass bottle of blood.

"That is the opposite of the cursed blood I gave you. In that bottle is my purest blood. Should you or someone in danger drink it, it will fill you with godly strength, and heal all wounds. But be cautious..." you warned.

"Use by those with knowledge of the arcane arts will not end well." You finished. The queen nodded, taking the vial with a bow.

"Thank you, o Great One." She began to glow, dissolving into mist.

You opened your mortal eyes, looking at the new scroll in your hands. You decided not to open it. You opened a pouch on your belt, placing the scroll within it. With that done, you turned around, seeing what happened while you were off.